Government mum as polytechnic lecturers begin strike today

Federal Ministry of Education and its labour and productivity counterpart are yet to invite teachers in polytechnics for talks over a two-week strike scheduled to commence today following an industrial disagreement with the government.

President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Shammah Kpanja, who confirmed this at the weekend, said the union was yet to receive an invitation for dialogue after the leadership had intimated the government of its decision to proceed on a two-week work-to-rule.

While explaining that the two-week strike followed an initial 15-day ultimatum issued at its 111th National Executive Council meeting.

The union accused the government of disrespecting provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, different edicts establishing state-owned institutions and other instruments of governance in the sector, particularly as it affected the appointment of principal officers in federal and state-owned polytechnics.

ASUP pointed out how the governing council of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, appointed a new rector as well as the appointment of a rector in Federal Polytechnic Wannune without following due process.

The union noted that though the schemes of service for polytechnics had been suspended, it was yet to be reviewed as demanded.

Other issues in contention include non-release of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds for 2023, intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in the admission of Higher National Diploma students in the Nigerian Polytechnic System.

Non-capturing of the peculiar academic allowance of members for sustained payment in the planned post-IPPIS era, refusal of most state-owned polytechnics to implement the 35/25 per cent salary review for members and non-release of the arrears of same in Federal Polytechnics, non-release/resolution of the owed CONTISS 15 migration arrears to members in the lower cadre 8.

While providing the background to the decision of the union to embark on a two-week strike, Kpanja explained that following the 15-day ultimatum issued at the 111th NEC meeting, ASUP was invited to a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education and other critical stakeholders in the sector on October 23, where an action plan was developed to address the issues in contention within specific timelines.

However, he noted that one month after the action plan was drafted, most of the issues in contention were yet to be implemented.